Turkey / Byzantium: Zeno (425-491), Eastern Roman emperor, from the book Romanorvm imperatorvm effigies: elogijs ex diuersis scriptoribus per Thomam Treteru S. Mariae Transtyberim canonicum collectis, 1583

Zeno the Isaurian (425-491), originally known as Tarasis Kodisa Rousombladadiotes, was an Isaurian officer serving in the Eastern Roman army. He became an ally to Emperor Leo, marrying his daughter Ariadne and helping him assassinate the Alan general Aspar, who held much influence in Constantinople. He took the name Zeno, apparently from another famous Isaurian officer who had fought against Attila, to make himself more acceptable to Roman hierarchy.

When Leo died in 474, Zeno's son Leo II became emperor, but as he was only seven at the time, he was convinced to name his father co-emperor. Zeno soon became sole emperor when his son died from an illness. Due to his barbarian origins, Zeno was not popular with the people and the Senate, despite his successes in foreign issues and stabilising the empire. Domestic revolts and religious dissension marked his reign, as well as the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

Zeno died in 491 from either dysentery or epilepsy, with no sons to succeed him. A popular legend states that Zeno had been buried alive after becoming insensible, either from drinking or from illness. He called out for help, but his wife Ariadne did not allow anyone to open the sarcophagus.

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